BALANGA, BATAAN –It’s all systems go for this year’s Bataan Freedom Run which will be held on April 2, 2017in Marivelesand the all-new Mariveles-San Fernando-Capas Freedom Trail on April 10-11, 2017 tracing the historic Bataan Death March route. Both events are slated for this year’s commemoration of the 75th year of the Bataan Death March and Philippine Veterans Week.

Now on its fourth year, the Bataan Freedom Run still has the marathon at 42 kms for serious marathon runners, plus the 21k, 10k, 5k for the running enthusiasts, and the 1km run for kids and for pets.For this year, the Bataan Freedom Run will be held in the Freeport Area in Mariveles, Bataan. All winners will receive cash prizes and medals while finishers of the 42k marathon leg of the run will have a finisher’s medal and a Bataan Freedom Run Finisher shirt.

“It’s one of those few race events that caters to a wide spectrum of runners, from the serious marathoners, to the enthusiasts and even to the kids and the families’ pets. Our aim is to bring the whole family together in a meaningful event that remembers and honors our Filipino and American Heroes who fought for freedom during the Battle for Bataan.” said Mike Villa-Real, Head of Veterans Bank’s Corporate and Consumer Relations Division.

“This year, on the occasion of the 75th year of the Death March, we now have the new 2017 Mariveles-San Fernando-Capas Freedom Trail which traverses the actual Death March route which covers three Prariveles, Balanga, San Fernando, Capas; History Channel and our sponsors.”

This major event links the Bataan Freedom Run and the Capas Freedom March, organized by the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB), the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) and AAP Travel – the organizer of the Capas Freedom March.” Added Villa-Real.

The Freedom Trail has three major components: the 160km ultramarathon that as individual and relay categories (8 or 16 person team), the bike or “Padyak para saKagitingan” and the big motorbikes (400cc and up) or Freedom Ride. The Bike and Motorbike events are broken into 40 km legs where there are historical stops along the Death March route where re-enactors, and historians would give the participants a taste of the historic events that occurred during the route.

“Both events are aimed at raising awareness about the Bataan Death March, that it is not and is more than a “defeat.” We were actually winning at the Battle of the Pockets in Abucay and the Battle of the Points in Mariveles; and among our Southeast Asian neighbors, we were the only people who resisted the invaders to the point that their invasion timetable wasn’t accomplished and they had to send reinforcements from abroad. Only in the Philippines.” Said Villa-Real

Since 2014, the Bataan Freedom Run is held in honor of the thousands of Filipino and American World War II veterans who endured the Bataan Death March seventy-four years ago and will be one of the highlights of this year’s celebration of Philippine Veterans Week. The route for the various distances follows the historic route taken by Filipino and American prisoners-of-war in Bataan province in 1942 when they were forced to march by their Japanese captors after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor.

“These two massive events would not have been possible without the support of our partners. We are thankful to Bataan Governor Abet Garcia of Bataan, Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, the LGUs of M. Proceeds from both events will be used to fund the restoration and maintenance of World War II Historical Markers including the Death March Kilometers along the route.

Bataan Freedom Run and the Freedom Trail are presented by Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) and co-presented by History Channel Asia; in coordination with the Provincial Government of Bataan, Provincial Government of Pampanga, the City Government of Balanga, the City Government of San Fernando, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), and with Without Limits as race consultant.

The success of this year’s Bataan Freedom Run has buoyed the optimism of PVB and its partners and sponsors in the holding of bigger and better runs in the future especially in 2017 when the Philippines celebrates the 75th Anniversary of the Fall of Bataan.

For more information, please visit the Facebook pages of Bataan Freedom Run and Freedom Trail or contact (02) 2637768.